Regulating opinions

Regulating opinions

Expressing views will be made subject to regulations by the government. In a hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission II in Jakarta yesterday (Monday), Home Minister Mohamad Yogie S.M. said that before very long the government will issue a decree to regulate demonstrations. There are plans to name the regulation: Procedures for the Expression of Opinions in Accordance with Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

According to the Home Minister views regarding the plan are at present being gathered from experts, society leaders and other parties concerned. This is necessary, the minister said, in order that the implementation of the regulation will cause no disturbances.

With the debate barely subsided on whether or not licenses for seminars, discussions and other current events are necessary, now even the manner of expressing views is about to be regulated by decree.

Also, it seems that the name Pancasila is being overused and applied to subjects that are ill-suited. It is not the display of the word Pancasila that gives a decree its strength of authority, but whether or not it carries the substance of the Pancasila ideology.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta